Trump orders 5,000 troops withdrawn from Germany
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- Pentagon orders removal of 5,000 troops from Germany and cancels a battalion-sized long‑range missile unit scheduled for later this year.
- Germany’s defense minister says the withdrawal is expected and manageable, while Chancellor Merz defends his criticism of U.S. performance in the Middle East.
- House Armed Services Committee leaders label the pullout “premature,” arguing it weakens deterrence and sends the wrong signal to Vladimir Putin.
- Russia hawks in Washington criticize the decision as undermining U.S. national security and European deterrence.
Why it matters: U.S. cuts 5,000 troops from Germany, shifting defense burden to Berlin and saving millions in overseas costs, while Russia interprets the drawdown as a weakening of NATO deterrence.
